Crosley Engine Family Tree - CIBA Years

The birth of CIBA - "The Cast Iron Block has only a slight increase in weight and is a distinct engineering achievement of the Crosley Engineering Laboratories that has taken over a year in it's development. It will definitely be better in territories having hydrant water containing chemicals with corrosive or electrolytic action and will also be better for marine use where salt water is used as a coolant. These Blocks will have all the characteristics of Cast Iron Blocks that you have known in other motor cars. The new Engine will retain all of the exclusive advanced features such as overhead cam shaft, valve rotators, four-ring pistons, etc." (Dealer Letter)
Crosley CIBA - 1949 to 1952
CIBA - Cast Iron Block Assembly After numerous problems and a loss of public acceptance, Crosley switched to cast iron construction for the block in early 1949. COBRA owners could retrofit CIBA units for $89 with exchange. Several variation of the CIBA were made, starting with a flat top combustion chamber and ending with a Turbulator combustion chamber. A limited number of 10:1 QuickSilver engines were made for some SuperSports models, they used an alcohol/water injector on the carb to keep them from spark knocking. Below you can see some of the running variations in the block.
Note the placement of Crosley and the shape of the casting on the back of the block. It has a flat top combustion chamber and a thinner bottom flange. I think this is an early cast block, maybe a replacement block for the tin when the engines were rebuilt by the factory.	New location for Crosley, same back casting, most seem to be flat top, a slight variation with 2 water plugs in the back can be either flat or turbulator combustion chamber.	Later block same Crosley placement, has a different casting shape on the back. This change was make so adding a cam driven governor could be added for industrial and military applications. You can't see it in this photo but it also has two water outlets on the back. These appear to all have turbulator style combustion chambers.
A Crosley product book  put out in the 1951-52 time frame, shows this engine as a "Commercial Engine" for general industrial uses. It has also been reported that this engine has been seen in a forklift application. Note the unique position of the Crosley name. It also has a different casting number #209501. The specs are the same as the car engine but they may have been built tougher inside for this application.  Has anyone rebuilt one of these engines  that can give any info on what might be different inside?	This one was at the 2001 Crosley Nationals. Another has shown up on Long Island. Both engines have very late serial numbers.	QuickSilver Engine with VitaMeter
	Still a Mystery So far four blocks have shown up like the upper block to the left. Not sure what the X means. The first one of these I found was reported to be the original engine out of a Super Sports. I thought maybe the X was for 10:1 compression Quicksilver. The lower left block has also shown up a couple of times with what I call a sloppy X. Click on the pictures to the left to see the full block. A theory has been sent in for both these X blocks. Foundries mark experimental runs of castings with an X when they are trying something new. Notice that the neat X is a tag held on with some round headed nails in the form that made the block. If the experiment worked they use the part and make the change permanent, removing the X. Any other ideas?	Crosley Engine Serial Numbers 6/46 to 12/46 CC46-100 to CC46-5586 1/47 to 9/24/47 CE7-5587 to CE7-21999 9/24/47 to 12/47 22000 to 28803 1/48 to the end 28804 and Up Just from observations: Late engines with 6 numbers in the serial number, not counting any letters, have a higher frequency of cast steel cranks and strapped mains. Most late generator engines besides having the 6 digit serial number have a C stamped by the serial number and all late generator engines have cast steel or better cranks, strapped mains and heavier crankcases.
Yet Another Mystery I was told of a block with Crosley cast on the manifold side by the carburetor.  Nothing else was reported.  Any ideas?	Post Crosley	Beaver-Boat Marine Don't know much, it has a Crosley script block.  Here is the manufacturing plate.
Correction or additions are welcome. Jim@Bollman.com
Taylor Years CoBra Years CIBA Years Post Crosley Big Block Years

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